Track bar assembly and method of use for correcting thrown tracks

ABSTRACT

A system and method of use of the system to reset a thrown continuous track onto wheels of a continuous track vehicle (CTV). The system includes at least one track bar assembly configured to engage the thrown continuous track to reset teeth within channels on the wheels. In an aspect, the track bar assembly includes a bar configured to engage the inside surface of the thrown track and wheels of the CTV and a track mount tab connected to the bar, the track mount tab configured to engage the outer surface of the continuous track by being received within the gaps between the adjacent treads or over adjacent treads.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/675,201, filed on May 23, 2018, which is relied upon and incorporatedherein in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tools used to assist in resettingthrown tracks onto rollers for continuous track vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Continuous track vehicles (CTV) utilize continuous tracks that aredriven by driving wheels. Continuous tracks include numerous separatetreads attached to one another, with the threads including teeth ontheir interior side. The teeth engage the driving wheels, as well asstabilizing wheels, of the CTV, in order to move the continuous trackforwards, backwards, or both directions when executing a turn.

Continuous tracks allow CTVs to traverse uneven terrain whiledistributing the weight of the vehicle more evenly across the track asit engages the surface, creating an advantage over normal wheel basedvehicles. However, a common problem that CTVs face is throwing acontinuous track from the driving wheels. In such instances, the teethon the treads disengage from the wheels, preventing the continuous trackfrom fully engaging with the wheels to move the CTV along.

The throwing of a track is common place, especially if the CTV is usedin remote and ungraded areas. The continuous tracks can dislodge fromthe driving wheels due to the track going over a hard, uneven surface(e.g., rock, stump, etc.), which causes the track teeth to be pushed outof the driving wheels, either to the machine side or opposite side. Thechances of the track being thrown/dislodged increases especially whenoperating on steeper and rough terrain.

Resetting the continuous track on the driving wheels is an arduous task,especially if the CTV is in a remote area. Users can attempt to resetthe track using pry and crow bars. This method requires at least twousers, one to apply pressure with the pry bar while the other rotatesthe track in the necessary direction to get the teeth back into thedrive wheel. Such attempts can take hours. Another option is to call aservice which can reset the continuous track, which takes time and canbe expensive.

Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for resetting throwncontinuous tracks on the wheels of CTVs in a quick and efficient manner,while only requiring one person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a track bar assembly used to reset a throwncontinuous track onto wheels of a continuous track vehicle (CTV). In anaspect, the track bar assembly is configured to reset teeth of thecontinuous track within channels on the wheels. In an aspect, the trackbar assembly is configured to be received within a gap between adjacenttreads or on a tread itself of the thrown continuous track. In anaspect, the track bar assembly has components that are large enough todisengage the teeth from the wheels while allowing the track to beadvanced along the driving wheels. In an aspect, the track bar assemblyincludes a bar configured to engage the inside surface of the throwntrack and wheels of the CTV, and a track mount tab connected to the bar,the track mount tab configured to engage the outer surface of thecontinuous track. In such aspects, the track mount tab can be configuredto be received within gaps of the track, or engage the outer surface oftreads. In an aspect, three track bar assemblies are used, and areconfigured to be placed in three adjacent gaps or over three adjacenttreads of the continuous track. In an aspect, three track bar assembliesare inserted between teeth along a section of the continuous track. Inan aspect, at least one of the three track bar assemblies furthercomprises a tab brace connected to the bar and the track mount tab,wherein the tab brace is further configured to receive force to put thecontinuous track back onto the wheels.

In an aspect, the present invention is directed at a method of resettinga thrown continuous track onto wheels of a continuous track vehicleusing a track bar assembly. The method includes placing at least onetrack bar assembly on the continuous track, within a gap between treadsor on the threads themselves, moving the continuous track so the atleast one track bar assembly engages one of the driving wheels of thecontinuous track vehicle so that the teeth of the continuous track donot touch the driving wheels, applying force to the at least one trackbar assembly to move the continuous track until the teeth of the trackare aligned with the channels of the driving wheels, and removing the atleast one track bar assembly from the track, leaving the teeth withinthe channels. In an aspect, the method of applying force comprisesapplying force to the at least one track bar assembly to move thecontinuous track until the teeth of the track are aligned with thechannels of a front driving wheel, advancing the continuous track to theback wheel, and applying the force to the at least one track barassembly to move the continuous track until the teeth of the track arealigned with the channels of the back driving wheels.

The benefits of such a system and method are numerous. First, the systemand method discussed above can be performed by one person. Second, thetrack bar assemblies are portable and easily stored on the CTV. The useof the system greatly reduces the time needed to reset the track,ranging from five to ten minutes using one person. If two people areinvolved, the time can be reduced even further.

These and other aspects of the invention can be realized from a readingand understanding of the detailed description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 show various views of a track bar assembly according to anaspect of the present invention.

FIGS. 4-5 show various views of a track mount tab of the track barassembly of FIGS. 1-3.

FIGS. 6-7 show various views of a tab brace and track mount tab of thetrack bar assembly of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 8 illustrates a tab brace of FIGS. 6-7.

FIG. 9 illustrates a thrown track off the driving wheels of a CTV.

FIG. 10 illustrates a CTV with the track and roller assembly preparedfor resetting the track.

FIG. 11 illustrates a plurality of track bar assemblies being placed ona track according to an aspect of the present invention.

FIGS. 12 and 14 illustrate the track bar assemblies advanced to engagethe driving wheel of a CTV.

FIGS. 13 and 15 illustrate the track bar assemblies after force has beenapplied to engage the driving wheels.

FIG. 16 illustrates the track back on the driving wheels with the trackbar assemblies removed.

FIGS. 17-19 illustrate methods of using the track bar assembly accordingto an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a track bar assemblies placed over adjacent treads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and withinwhich are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments by which theinvention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Mechanical, and structuralchanges may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spiritand scope of the present teachings. The following detailed descriptionis therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of thepresent disclosure is defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

The current invention is directed at a track bar assembly and its methodof use for resetting thrown continuous tracks on the wheels of acontinuous track vehicle (CTV). In an aspect, the track bar assembly canbe utilized in the field by a single user in order to reset thecontinuous tracks. The track bar assembly is compact, transportable, andeasy to use with very little training or additional equipment required.

FIGS. 1-16 and 20 illustrate a track bar assembly 100, and itsapplication, according to an aspect of the present invention. The trackbar assembly 100 is configured to be used with a thrown track 20 of aCTV 10 (see FIGS. 9-16). In a more specific aspect, the track barassembly 100 is configured to be removably engaged with a continuoustrack 20, engaging the outer surface 22 and the inner surface 24 of thetrack 20. In an aspect, the track bar assembly 100 is configured to fitbetween the gaps 34 of the treads 32 as well as the teeth 26 of thetracks, as shown in FIGS. 11-16. In an aspect, the track bar assembly100 is configured to fit over adjacent treads 32, as shown in FIG. 20.Once placed on the tracks 20, force is applied to the track bar assembly100 to move the track 20 back in line with the roller assembly 40 (seeFIGS. 12 and 14). The track bar assembly 100 engages the roller assembly40 of the CTV 10, disengaging teeth 26 of the treads 32 from the drivingwheels 42 of the roller assembly 40, so that the teeth 26 can berealigned with internal channels/grooves 44 of the driving wheels 42(See FIGS. 13 and 15). In one aspect, three track bar assemblies 100 areutilized with the thrown track 20 in order to completely disengage theteeth 26 of the driving wheels 42, discussed in detail below.

In an aspect, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the track bar assembly 100 includesa bar 110, a track mount tab 130, and a tab brace 170. The bar 110 isconfigured to engage the inner surface 24 of the continuous track 20 aswell as the driving wheels 42 to ensure that the teeth 26 of the tracks20 do not touch or engage the wheels 42, allowing the teeth 26 and thetrack 20 to be reset and aligned with the channels 44 of the drivingwheels 42. The track mount tab 130, connected to the bar 110, isutilized to keep the track bar assembly 100 removably secured to thethrown track 20. The track mount tab 130 engages the outer surface 22 ofthe track 20 opposite the inner surface 24 of the track 20 where the bar110 is located. In an exemplary aspect, both bar 110 and track mount tab130 are configured to be received within the gaps 34 of the treads 32 ofthe track 20. In another aspect, the track bar assembly 100 isconfigured to fit over adjacent treads 32, as shown in FIG. 20.

In an aspect, the bar 110 includes a long cylindrical body 120, as shownin FIGS. 1-3. In exemplary aspects, the cylindrical body 120 has adiameter that is larger than the length of the teeth 26 of the track 20.This ensures that the bar 110 extends beyond the teeth 26, pushing onthe wheels 42 of the roller assembly 40, allowing for later alignment ofthe teeth 26 with the channels 44. In another aspect, the cylindricalbody 120 has a length that allows the body 120 to extend beyond theteeth 26 while engaging the track with the track mount tab 130 abuts theedge of the track 20. In other aspects, the bar 110 can have a differentshape, but the round nature of a cylindrical body 120 is preferred as itallows the bar 110 to move along the wheels 42 easily when the track 20is advanced, whereas a shape with a flat surface could produce unwantedfriction.

In an aspect, the cylindrical body 120 is defined by a front end 122 anda back end 126, with the front end 122 configured to be inserted betweenthe inner surface 24 of the track 20, between the teeth 26, and theroller assembly 40. In an aspect, the front end 122 can include aconical tip 124, making the insertion of the cylindrical body 120between the inner surface 24 of the track 20 and the roller assembly 40easier. The back end 126 of the cylindrical body 120 is connected to thetrack mount tab 130.

The track mount tab 130, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, includes an innersurface 132 and an exterior surface 134, with the inner surface 132configured to engage the track 20. The exterior surface 134 can engagethe tab brace 170. The track mount tab 130 includes a vertical portion140 and a horizontal portion 150. In an aspect, each of these portions140, 150 has a rectangular shape, with the width being much shorter thanthe length, and the thickness of the portions 140, 150 being smallerthan the width. In an aspect, the track mount tab 130 is configured tosecure the track bar assembly 100 to the track 20, with the horizontalportion 150 engaging the outer surface 22 of the track 20, and thevertical portion 140 abutting the edge of the track 20. The track mounttab 130 with the bar 110 forms a receiving gap 135 in which the track 20is received. In an aspect, the receiving gap 135 can vary depending onthe size of the tracks 20 for which it will be used. In some aspects,the receiving gap 135 is large enough to receive the track 20 at gaps 34for some tracks 20 or treads 32 themselves.

In an aspect, the vertical and horizontal portions 140, 150 of the trackmount tab 130 are formed from one continuous piece of material formedinto an approximate right angle, as shown in FIG. 5. However, in otherembodiments, the vertical and horizontal portions 140, 150 are separatepieces and welded/connected together. In an aspect, the vertical portion140 includes a bottom end 142 and a top end 144, with the bottom end 142being attached to the back end 126 of the bar 110. In an exemplaryaspect, the bottom end 142 can be further shaped to have a rounded end146, in order to match the cylindrical shape of the bar 110, making thetrack bar assembly 100 less cumbersome. In an aspect, the horizontalportion 150 has a front end 152 and rear end 156, with the rear end 156meeting the top end 144 of the vertical portion 140. In an aspect, thefront end 152 can be rounded 154, making it easier for the horizontalportion 150 to slide into the gaps 34 between the treads 32 of the track20.

In an aspect, the track bar assembly 100 includes a tab brace 170 toreinforce the track mount tab 130, as shown in FIGS. 6-8. As discussedabove, force is applied to a track bar assembly 100 to move the throwntrack 20 back onto driving wheels 42 of the roller assembly 40. The tabbrace 170 provides support for the track bar assembly 100 to receivesuch force.

The tab brace 170 includes a notch 172, which receives the bar 110 andtrack mount tab 130. The tab brace 170 can be made of one single pieceof material, forming a long horizontal tab 174, a vertical portion 180,and a wide horizontal tab 190. The long horizontal tab 174 is configuredto be joined/welded to the horizontal portion 150 of the track mount tab130. In an aspect, the long horizontal tab 174 is approximately the samelength of the horizontal portion 150 of the track mount tab 130. In anaspect, the long horizontal tab 174 of the tab brace 170 is oriented ina perpendicular fashion with the horizontal portion 150 of the trackmount tab 130, providing more support for the track bar assembly 130.The long horizontal tab 174 includes a front end 176 and a back end 178.

The back end 178 of the long horizontal tab 172 runs into the verticalportion 180, which includes a top end 182 and a bottom end 184, with thetop end 182 meeting the back end 178 of the long horizontal tab 174. Thevertical portion 180 has a width 186 of such a length to prevent theforce-applying object to the track mount assembly 100 from hitting thetrack 20 or roller assembly 40. In addition, the vertical portion 180 iswelded/connected to the vertical portion 150 of the track mount tab 130.In an aspect, the vertical portion 180 is mounted perpendicular to thevertical portion 150 of the track mount tab 130 for additional supportand application of force. The length of the vertical portion 180 alsoprovides a larger target to receive and distribute force for the trackbar assembly 100 to the track 20. In an aspect, the bar 110 and tracktab 130 are attached to the tab brace 170 in a manner which places thebar 110 in a location that is approximate to the center of the verticalportion 180 of the tab brace 170 to ensure that the force applied isapplied to the combination of bar 110/track mount tab 130 to move thetrack 20 as efficiently as possible to a reset position.

The bottom end 184 of the vertical portion 180 of the tab brace 170extends into the wide horizontal tab 190, and more specifically a backend 194 of the wide horizontal tab 190. The horizontal tab 190 includesa front end 192 and a width 196. In an aspect, the front end 192 has anangled portion 198. The horizontal tab 190 is welded/joined/connected tothe outer surface of the cylindrical body 110 of the bar 100. Byproviding an angled portion 198, the wide horizontal tab 190 provides asignificant amount of support to receive and distribute the force whileavoiding actual contact with wheels 42 of the roller assembly 40 whenthe track 20 is being reset.

In other embodiments, the tab brace 170 of the track bar assembly 100can have various components and sizes, but is configured to distributethe force to the assembly 100 safely and efficiently. For example, inone aspect, the tab brace 170 can include a component that provides alarge surface to receive the force that is applied. The component can becircular or polygonal in nature.

Further, as discussed above, in an aspect, more than one track barassembly 100 can be utilized at a time to reposition the track 20. Forexample, as shown in FIGS. 11-15, three track bar assemblies 100 can beutilized. While all track bar assemblies 100 can include a tab brace170, it is not necessary as force only needs to be applied to one trackbar assembly 100 in order to move the track 20 back on the drivingwheels 42.

The track bar assemblies 100 are used to reset a continuous track 20onto the roller assembly 40 of a CTV 10 in the following methodaccording to an aspect, as shown in FIG. 17. The method includespreparing the track 20 to receive the track bar assembly (step 200),placing the track bar assemblies 100 on the track (step 300), applyingforce to the track bar assemblies 100 (step 400), and, after the trackhas been reset, removing the track bar assemblies (step 500).

The continuous track 20 of the CTV 10 has to be prepared to receive thetrack bar assemblies, shown in step 200 (see FIG. 18). First, the track20 and the roller assembly 40 have to be lifted off the ground (step210). This can be done in numerous ways, including using blocks and/orramps on one end and other hydraulic components of the CTV 10 on theother end (e.g., front loader, etc.). Once the track 20/roller assembly40 are off the ground, the tension of the track 20 is released/decreased(step 220).

After the track 20 is prepared (step 200), the track bar assemblies 100are placed on the track 20 (step 300), as shown in FIG. 19. A firsttrack bar assembly 100 is placed along the track 20, with the track barmount 130 oriented to receive the track 20, with the bar 110 beingplaced between the roller assembly 40 and the track 20 (step 310). Inone aspect, the track bar assembly 100 is placed in the gaps 34 betweenthe treads 32, as well as the teeth 26, with the front end 120 insertedin between the roller assembly 40 and the track 20. In an aspect, thetrack bar assembly 100 is configured to fit over adjacent treads 32 andbetween the teeth 26. The track bar assembly 100 is advanced/mountedonto the track 20 until the track bar mount 130 engages the edge of thetrack 20, preventing the assembly 100 from going any further. In apreferred aspect, the track bar assembly 100 is placed close to adriving wheel 42 of the roller assembly 40. As discussed above, morethan one track bar assembly 100 may be necessary in order to reset thetrack 20. In such instances, this process is repeated until the needednumber of track bar assemblies 100 are in place. For example, threetrack bar assemblies 100 can be utilized, with each track bar assembly100 being placed in adjacent gaps 34. In another aspect, three track barassemblies 100 are utilized with the tabs 130 placed over adjacenttreads 32, as shown in FIG. 20. In such aspects when multiple track barassemblies 100 are utilized, it is preferable if one of the track barassemblies 100 includes a tab brace 170 that is placed in the middle ofthe plurality of track bar assemblies.

After the track bar assemblies 100 are put in place (step 310), thetrack 20 can be advanced so that the track bar assemblies 100 engage thedriving wheel(s) 42 (step 320). The advancement can be done by movingthe tracks 20 in a forward or a backward direction. The track barassemblies 100, and more specifically, the cylindrical body 120 of thebar 110, engages the exterior of the driving wheels 42 such that theteeth 26 of the track 10 are disengaged (i.e., not in contact) from thesurfaces of the driving wheels 42. The number of track bar assemblies100 necessary is determined by the size of the CTV 10, tracks 20, anddriving wheels 42, but more importantly, the number of track barassemblies 100 is determined by how many are necessary to fullydisengage the teeth 26 of the tracks from the driving wheels 42.

After the track bar assemblies 100 have been advanced to disengage theteeth 26 from the driving wheels 42, force is applied to at least one ofthe track bar assemblies 100 to reset the track 20 on the wheels (step400). More specifically, the force is applied to one of the track barassemblies 100 until the teeth 26 of the tracks 20 are aligned with theinner channels/grooves 44 of the driving wheels 42. In an aspect, forcecan be applied by hitting the track bar assembly 100 with a sledgehammer or some other force applying tool. In addition, as discussedabove, the force is preferably applied to a track bar assembly 100 thatincludes a tab brace 170. Force can be applied to all track barassemblies 100, or only a portion of those used.

In most instances, when a track 20 is thrown from the roller assemblies40, it is thrown from both the front and rear driving wheels. In suchinstances, steps 320 and 400 need to be repeated for the other drivingwheel. Upon completion, the track 20 has been reset, and the track barassemblies can be removed (step 500).

The methods discussed above can be applied to tracks 20 that have beenthrown away from the machine side of the CTV 10 or thrown towards themachine side of the CTV 10. The track bar assemblies 100 are placed onthe side of the tracks 20 that will need to have forced applied forrealignment.

While the methods above have been discussed in relation to resetting thetrack 20 back in place, the track bar assemblies 100 can be used toremove the continuous tracks 20 from the CTV 10. The method includespreparing the track 20 to receive the track bar assembly, placing thetrack bar assemblies 100 on the track, and applying force to the trackbar assemblies 100.

First, the continuous track 20 of the CTV 10 is prepared to receive thetrack bar assemblies 100 by lifting the track 20 and the roller assembly40 off of the ground and the releasing/lessening the tension of thetrack 20. Next, the track bar assemblies 100 are placed on the track 20in the manner as discussed above. However, in instances of removal, itis preferable to place the track bar assemblies 100 on the track 20 onthe machine-side edge so that the force applied to the track barassemblies 100 pulls/pushes the track 20 off of the roller assembly 40.

After the track bar assemblies 100 are in place, the track 20 can beadvanced so that the track bar assemblies 100 engage the drivingwheel(s) 42. The advancement can be done by moving the tracks in forwardor backward direction. The track bar assemblies 100, and morespecifically, the cylindrical body 120 of the bar 110, engages theexterior of the driving wheels 42 such that the teeth 26 of the track 10are disengaged (i.e., not in contact) from the driving wheels 42.

After the track bar assemblies 100 have disengaged the teeth 26 from thedriving wheels 42, force is applied to at least one of the track barassemblies 100 to remove the track 20 from the wheels 42. Morespecifically, the force is applied to one of the track bar assemblies100 until the teeth 26 of the tracks 20 are clear of the edges of thewheels 42. In an aspect, force can be applied by hitting the track barassembly 100 with a sledge hammer or some other force applying tool, orby pulling on the track bar assemblies 100.

Having thus described exemplary embodiments of a method to producemetallic composite material, it should be noted by those skilled in theart that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that variousother alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made withinthe scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the invention is not limitedto the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limitedby the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A track bar assembly for use to reset a throwncontinuous track onto wheels of a continuous track vehicle (CTV), thetrack bar assembly configured to engage the thrown continuous track toreset teeth within channels on the wheels.
 2. The track bar assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the track bar assembly is configured to be receivedwithin a gap between adjacent treads of the thrown continuous track. 3.The track bar assembly of claim 1, wherein the track bar assembly isconfigured to be placed over a tread of the thrown continuous track. 4.The track bar assembly of claim 1, wherein the track bar assemblycomprises: a. a bar configured to engage the inside surface of thethrown track and wheels of the CTV; and b. a track mount tab connectedto the bar, the track mount tab configured to engage the outer surfaceof the continuous track.
 5. The track bar assembly of claim 4, whereinthe track bar assembly comprises three track bar assemblies, wherein thethree track bar assemblies are configured to be placed in three adjacentgaps.
 6. The track bar assembly of claim 4, wherein the track barassembly comprises three track bar assemblies, wherein the three trackbar assemblies are configured to be placed over three adjacent treads.7. The system of claim 4, wherein the track bar assembly furthercomprises a tab brace comprising a notch configured to receive and beconnected to the bar and the track mount tab, wherein the tab brace isfurther configured to receive force to put the continuous track backonto the wheels.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the track barassembly further comprises a tab brace comprising a notch configured toreceive and be connected to the bar and the track mount tab, wherein thetab brace is further configured to receive force to put the continuoustrack back onto the wheels.
 9. A method of resetting a thrown continuoustrack onto wheels of a continuous track vehicle, the method comprising:a. placing at least one track bar assembly between teeth of thecontinuous track; b. moving the continuous track so the at least onetrack bar assembly engages one of the driving wheels of the continuoustrack vehicle so that the teeth of the continuous track do not touch thedriving wheels; c. applying force to the at least one track bar assemblyto move the continuous track until the teeth of the track are alignedwith the channels of the driving wheels; and d. removing the at leastone track bar assembly from the track, leaving the teeth within thechannels.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one track barassembly is placed within a gap between adjacent treads and the teeth ofthe continuous track.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at leastone track bar assembly comprises: a bar configured to engage the insidesurface of the thrown track and wheels of the CTV; and a track mount tabconnected to the bar, the track mount tab configured to engage the outersurface of the continuous track by being received within the gapsbetween the adjacent treads.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the atleast one track bar assembly comprises: a bar configured to engage theinside surface of the thrown track and wheels of the CTV; and a trackmount tab connected to the bar, the track mount tab configured to engagethe outer surface of the continuous track by being placed over a treadof the CTV.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the placing at least onetrack bar assembly further comprises placing the at least one barassembly is placed over a tread and the teeth of the continuous track.14. The method of claim 9, wherein applying force comprises: applyingforce to the at least one track bar assembly to move the continuoustrack until the teeth of the track are aligned with the channels of afront driving wheel; advancing the continuous track to perform step bfor a back wheel; and applying the force to the at least one track barassembly to move the continuous track until the teeth of the track arealigned with the channels of the back driving wheels.
 15. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising lifting the track and roller assembly off ofthe ground and releasing the tension of the continuous track beforeplacing at least one track bar assembly in the gaps of the continuoustrack.
 16. A method of removing a continuous track from the wheels of acontinuous track vehicle, the method comprising: a. preparing the trackto receive at least one track bar assembly by lifting the track andreleasing tension from the track; b. placing the at least one track barassembly on the machine-side edge of the track; c. applying force to thetrack bar assembly to dislodge the track from the continuous trackvehicle; and d. removing the at least one track bar assembly from thetrack.